Improvement in methods of laying and forming cast-iron pipes



w. SM ITH. v

Methods of Laying andforming Cast-Iron Pipes.v

N0 ]55,H4 Patented Sept.l5,1874.

5 Bye, WITNESSES {a INVENTOR Zd/i rp "UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

WVILLIAM SMITH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT INMETHODS OF LAYING AND FORMING CAST-IRON PIPES.

Specification fOI'mlIlg part of Letters Patent No. 155,114., dated September 15, 1874; application filed August 8, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM SMITH, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Form of Cast-Iron Pipe and the Method of Laying the same; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention relates to the manner of joining cast-iron bowl-pipe into continuous lines; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, showing the application of my invention in laying pipe. Fig. 2 is a section of a ring used in the same before it is expanded, and Fig. 3 is a section of the same ring after the joint is made.

The method heretofore generally used in laying pipe is as follows: The tail end of the pipe, which, as now made, is provided with a small rib or ring projecting beyond the outer diameter of the pipe, is inserted into the bowl of the one already laid. Some tow is then calked in to prevent the lead from running into the interior of the pipe. A ring of clay is then packed around the space between the bowl and the outer diameter of the one inserted therein, a gateway being formed at the top, into which the molten lead is poured, thus filling up the space before mentioned with a solid ring of lead. The clay is then removed, and the lead further packed by hammering, with a view to make the joint more solid.

In my invention I construct the bowl and tail ends of the pipe in an essentially different shape from those now in use. The bowl A is at the bottom somewhat larger than at the mouth, so as to produce a wedge shape. The slope of this wedge need not be more than one-eighth of an inch in practice. The bottom of the bowl is also provided with a circular groove, a, one edge of which is close upon the inside diameter of the pipe, and is to match the extreme end of the tail of the pipe. The tail end B is also shaped to a wedge shape, but in an opposite direction to that presented by the bowl A, and the extreme end I) is formed to match or fit the groove a at the bottom of the bowl. This end of the pipe I cast in a chill, so as to have a smooth and even surface. 0 represents a hollow plug or wedge shaped ring, made of wood or other suitable material. Before the joint is made the outside diameter of this ring is equal or square, so as to allow of its being slipped through the narrow mouth of the bowl to its place, the whole of the required wedge shape being on its inside diameter. When this ring is slipped into place, the tail end of the pipe to fit therein is provided with a leaden gasket, 01, which forms a thin covering over the wedge and matching parts of the tail end. The pipe is then inserted into the wooden ring 0 in the bowl. A clamping-frame, D, is then placed so as to fasten over the bowl of the pipe already laid, and securely fastened. In the arch at the other end of the frame D is a hydraulic jack, E, operating upon a slide, G, which presses upon the bowl of the pipe to be laid. Power being applied by the jack, the tail end of the second pipe is forced into the bowl of the first pipe, the gasket d and wedged surface of the tail end B forcing the wooden ring C to expand and fill the base of the bowl until the matching part I), also covered by the gasket, is forced tightly into the groove a, and the joint is made, and so on, one after another, the pipes are laid.

It is evident that the groove a and matching part b can be made of any desired shape, either round, square, or angular, and the gasket 66 made to suit. This gasket can also be made of any metal that is sufficiently soft to yield to the pressure put upon it, but lead will probably be found to be the best material. These gaskets are formed by being cast in a chill-mold. Instead of the hydraulic jack, a screw, or some other equivalent, could be used to produce the required pressure.

In laying pipe by this method, there is a great saving in time and cost of material, as less than one-tenth of the lead ordinarily required under the old method will suffice for a perfect joint in mine, while the saving in time will be fully as great, as the workmen, having all the parts necessary to make the joints already prepared, can proceed Without delay, laying the pipe with ease and rapidity.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A bowl-pipe having the bowl A made of a circular wedged shape, With a groove, 00, at its base, and the tail end B formed with a Wedging-surface reverse to that of the bowl, and with a matching-edge, b, to fit the groove, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The Wedge ring 0, constructed as described, in combination with the bowl A and tail end B, for the purposes herein set forth.

WILLIAM SMITH.

Witnesses I 7 JOHN B. GEYsER,

JOHN D. MORELAND. 

